Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans!

Once again it's Wednesday and I'm forcing myself to actually do some work around here.

As we've done in recent Wednesday's, I'm taking a look back at a Leaf who wasn't a huge name, and wondering where they went after their time in Toronto was finished.

Today I'm getting very specific and find the Leaf who wore my birthday number and played for the Leafs the year I was born. Who was #11 that year?

Gaston Gingras!

Yeah I had to look him up as well.

Despite being born in Quebec, Gaston Gingras played junior with the Ontario Hockey Leagues Kitchen Rangers and Hamilton Fincups. He also gets a nice piece of exclusive history where he made his professional debut with the World Hockey Association Birmingham Bulls in the 1978/79 season, alongside Maple Leafs greats Rob Ramage and Rick Vaive.

He wouldn't stay long, as he would be drafted by the Montréal Canadiens in the 1979 draft - the WHA merged with the NHL that summer and Birmingham players were allowed to be drafted - and what little boy from Quebec wouldn't leave Alabama to go play for Les Glorieux?

His first NHL season would be split between Montréal and Halifax (AHL), and after two more seasons with the Canadiens (playing 55 and then 34 games) the Canadiens would trade Gingras to the Maple Leafs for a 2nd round pick in December 1982.

He would never play a full NHL season, and after completing the 1983-94 season with the Leafs he would only get five more games with Toronto before being sent down to the AHL St. Catharines Saints. His time in Toronto was over and he would be sent back to Montréal for Larry Landon.

He spent that year in the AHL with the Sherbrooke Canadiens, but it wasn't much of a demotion. He played with Patrick Roy, Stéphane Richer, and Brian Skrudland and they won the 1995 Calder Cup at the end of the season.

Only one more season in Montréal - but it was worth it, he would win the 1986 Stanley Cup with the team - before he was traded to the St. Louis Blues for another Larry: Larry Trader.

How many players have been traded for someone with the same name twice?

Two seasons in St. Louis and off to Europe he went. He played in Switzerland and Italy, dropping down levels until he would leave in 1994 where he wouldn't return to the Canadiens AHL team, this time the Fredericton Canadiens. He played there from 1995 to 1996, only getting in 58 games those two seasons.

He attempted and comeback in 1998 in the ECHL with the Chesapeake Icebreakers, but it only lasted five games.

He fully retired, and now works in player development, running camps and weekly on ice sessions in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, and also with the Montréal Canadiens Hockey School.

Sharing love of the game in retirement, that is former Maple Leafs Gaston Gingras. Thank you for your service!

Now, here's some non-Gaston Gingras news.

The Maple Leafs played the Bruins last night and while it took an extra few minutes, they pulled out the win.

Recap: Leafs were down, but they were not out in OT win
Forget Pastrnak, we’ve got... Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg. (And Mitch)

Another Schenn on the Leafs? Maybe! And this one has also won a Stanley Cup.

Report: Maple Leafs interested in Brayden Schenn
The Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in acquiring St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn, reports TSN’s Darren Dreger.Schenn could fill Toronto’s third-line center role, which is arguably the team’s biggest deadline need. Max Domi occupies that spot, but he’s also played the wing at times this season. Schenn could also move to the wing in the team’s top six.The 33-year-old has 12 goals and 21 assists in 58 contests with the Blues this season. He has plenty of snarl in his game, with 147 hits on the year.Schenn is signed through the 2027-28 season with a $6.5-million cap hit. His contract includes a full no-trade clause this season before shrinking to a 15-team no-trade list on July 1.The Maple Leafs organization would offer Schenn plenty of familiarity. He played under head coach Craig Berube for six seasons in St. Louis, winning the Stanley Cup together in 2019. Schenn’s brother, Luke, spent parts of five seasons in Toronto, with the latest stint coming as a deadline add in 2023.Coincidentally, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that he believes teams have discussed uniting the Schenn brothers. Luke, a right-shot, stay-at-home defenseman, is signed with the Nashville Predators through next season at $2.75 million annually.

Two big names on the Leafs are headed to free agency this summer if no deals are made. Would they be trade pieces?

‘I Don’t Think He Thinks About It’: Maple Leafs’ John Tavares’ Demeanor Has Not Changed Amid Contract Uncertainty
As the NHL trade deadline looms, speculation continues to circulate about the future of Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares. The 34-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and as of now, there’s little indication that a contract extension is imminent.

Once stuff is settled, stuff will be done.

Calle Jarnkrok Is Close To Making Maple Leafs Return, Team Waiting on ‘Stuff;’
Calle Jarnkrok has been skating with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the forward seemed to make the next step in his recovery by joining the team during their four-game road trip.

As of right now it would be Maple Leafs hosting the Red Wings in round one. The two haven't met in the post-season since the first round in 1993. The Leafs won 4-3.

NHL Bubble Watch: Pre-trade deadline check on playoff projections
Though a few teams are locked in at the top (and bottom), many spots remain up for grabs. Plus, which players must step up for contenders?

The NHL has it's very own Hans Moleman!

NHL Referee Justin Kea Takes Puck to Groin, Stays In Game
Referee Justin Kea was hit by the puck in a very sensitive location late in Sunday’s game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Utah Hockey Club.

Hockey fans in Los Angeles gathered for an all star charity game featuring ex-NHLers like Jeremy Roenick and celebrities such as Steve Carell and Justin Bieber to raise money for victims of the latest LA fires.

Bieber, Roenick among those to play in hockey benefit for LA fire relief fund
Justin Bieber and Steve Carell laced up their skates along with Hockey Hall of Famers Rob Blake, Mark Messier, Cammi Granato and Jeremy Roenick on Sunday afternoon to support relief funds from the Los Angeles fires.

Once again, hockey parents do their darndest to embarrass the children.

Multiple Parents involved in physical altercation at youth hockey game in Fargo
Multiple Parents involved in physical altercation at youth hockey game in Fargo

Finally, don't say Sarah Nurse is just a hockey player.

Olympic athlete Sarah Nurse say she’s ‘never liked to be put in a box’ and that ‘hockey is not who I am as a person’
The Canadian hockey player opened up about being a Black woman in the sport, collaborating with Revlon and her favourite makeup products.

Enjoy your day everyone!